More people were on the links of The Oaks this year.

The Bulldog Golf Classic hosted 24 teams — the most in its 12 years — June 16 to raise money for the Mexico High School golf teams.

John Knipfel, girls golf coach Layne Ray and boys golf coach Becca Bates put on the event while also playing in one of three flights, or groups, that had three teams place. Each player had two mulligans they could use and could score as worse as a bogey on each hole.

Ray said the event not only raises money for the high school teams but funds a scholarship they award to two seniors each year. More than 40 businesses sponsored the tournament this year.

“This money is used for extra things like food before and after tournaments, snacks during them, any clothing needs we may have, travel expenses and much more,” said Bates, who just finished her first year coaching the boys program. “The generosity of the community in regards to this tournament is unbelievable. This tournament would not be possible without the help from John Knipfel.”

The A-flight winners were Ernie’s Cafe in first with a 55 and Tool Tech and Gabe Bedford tied for second at 56. The B-flight winners of Schlemmer, Broeker Engineering and Schafer were in a three-way tie for first place at 62. The C-flight winners included Whalen Motors and Adam Utterback in a tie for first at 66 and Coach Bates in third with a 67.

Ernie’s Cafe also won the skins game on the sixth hole with a score of 3.
Along with the team events, golfers competed in a longest drive, closest to the pin, longest putt and putting contests.

Jason Kreib won the longest drive contests held on the sixth and 15th holes, Zach Beamer and Mike Hibbs won the closest to the pin events on the third and 12th holes, respectively, and Logan Schlemmer and Makenzie Mudd were the longest putt winners on the ninth and 18th holes, respectively, Brad Rowe won the putting contest on the ninth hole.